1956 No brake lights.

[56 customline]

Hey folks: No brake lights on my 56B. Have power all the way to bulb sockets, but when you put 1157 in won't light. New bulbs, tried new sockets. Head scratcher. Any ideas?

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[Dick Rupp]

Brake light switch

 

[83ragtop50]

Bad ground?

 

[Iloveoldgrease]

Hi,
Do you have tail lights and directional signals?
Sounds like a bad electrical ground. Make sure the bulb sockets are grounded to the body.
Also, I would check that the negative ground wire from the battery to the engine is in good condition and tight. Make sure the ground wire from the engine to the body is in place, in good condition, not corroded and is bolted tight.

 

[Dick Rupp]

Hey folks: No brake lights on my 56B. Have power all the way to bulb sockets, but when you put 1157 in won't light. New bulbs, tried new sockets. Head scratcher. Any ideas?

If you have taillights, then it sounds like the brake light switch is bad. I had a similar issue with my '55.

 

[DynoDan55]

If you have taillights, then it sounds like the brake light switch is bad. I had a similar issue with my '55.

The T-Bird parts suppliers sell a mechanical switch that attaches to the brake pedal. Easy to install, and more sensitive & reliable than the hydraulic one.

 

[ICON 56]

This happened to me on my 56, Bad brake line switch. located on the bottom drivers side lower exhaust manifold. Caution ! buy a new one, change when car is cooled down. you will get burned. Remember to add a drop of brake line fluid into the new switch housing orfuss dot match before changing out the switch or you will insert a air bubble into the brake line system.